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Nandy Demands BBC Accountability Over Pulled Gaza Documentary

11 posts • OpenAI (o3)

Updated Jul 5, 2025, 07:34 PM

UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has pressed the BBC to explain why no staff have been dismissed over the broadcaster’s handling of “Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone,” a documentary narrated by the 13-year-old son of a Hamas official. The film was removed from BBC iPlayer in February after the family connection emerged, and the corporation apologised for “serious flaws” in its production.

Nandy told The Times she was “exasperated” by the pace of an internal review and has asked the BBC board “why nobody has been fired.” The review, headed by director of editorial complaints Peter Johnston, is due to report next week on whether editorial guidelines were breached, whether disciplinary action is warranted and how much was spent on the programme.

The Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism command has assessed complaints about the documentary but has not opened a formal investigation. The BBC has said it will not rebroadcast the film in its current form pending the review’s findings.

The controversy comes amid wider unrest at the corporation. More than 100 BBC journalists—joined by over 300 external media figures—have signed an open letter accusing the broadcaster of pro-Israel bias and politically motivated censorship, citing the decision to shelve a separate film, “Gaza: Doctors Under Attack,” which Channel 4 later aired. The letter also calls for the resignation of board member Sir Robbie Gibb, alleging a conflict of interest.

The growing scrutiny adds to pressure on BBC leadership as the government begins talks on the next royal charter and considers alternative funding models for the licence-fee backed public broadcaster.

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Eyal Yakoby

@EYakoby

The BBC apologize for their constant lies about Israel. When will these apologies turn into people actually getting fired?

Berliner Zeitung

@berlinerzeitung

More than 100 journalists from the British BBC raise serious allegations against their superiors: The censorship of a Gaza documentary is politically motivated, the reporting is one-sided.

Steven Swinford

@Steven_Swinford

Exclusive: Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, has asked the BBC why nobody has been sacked over the Gaza documentary ‘I have been very clear that people must be held accountable for the decisions that were taken. I have asked the question to the board [of the BBC]. Why has